We planned to head to the city of Morok.

The Curiaca family there was at odds with the Ricci family. Fiorenzo would not venture there easily.

On the boat, Luigi told me the truth. His missing fingers were also courtesy of Fiorenzo, because Fiorenzo believed Luigi had developed feelings for me that he should not have.

I caressed his damaged hand. "So do you really have feelings for me?"

His cheeks flushed red. He nodded.

This was an honesty Fiorenzo did not possess.

I realized that perhaps I should find someone close to my age, have a normal romance, and live an ordinary life.

At this thought, tears suddenly fell without my control. Luigi carefully wiped away my hot tears, his tone as reverent as a believer facing God.

"Clarissa, from the first moment I saw you, I secretly vowed to become your most loyal knight. As long as you are happy, I will give you everything, even my life."

Under his gaze, I kissed his forehead. "Thank you."

As the boat pulled away from the mainland, I poured red wine for us and raised my glass. "To our new beginning!"

Just then, a massive firework bloomed in the sky, lighting up the night. I saw a superyacht approaching in the distance. Several people stood in a line at the bow and seated in their center was a familiar figure.

Fiorenzo.

"Signorina Diamante, Don Ricci says this fireworks display is to celebrate finding you. He hopes you enjoy it. Now please come back with us." Matteo shouted through a megaphone.

"Never!" I crossed my hands in front of my chest in an X.

Luigi stood and started toward the cabin to gun the engine. Then came a gunshot.

Luigi collapsed in a pool of blood.

I saw someone beside Fiorenzo holding a sniper rifle aimed at my small boat.

I rushed to Luigi and pulled him into my arms, but the bullet had hit his head. He was no longer breathing.

Tears rolled down my face. It felt like falling from heaven to hell. This boy who had helped me gain freedom, who had expressed his love for me, had just been killed by Fiorenzo.

Fiorenzo was a ruthless executioner. He had killed my hope for the future.

His large boat pulled alongside. Several burly men had already jumped onto my deck.

I was roughly dragged before him.

"Fiorenzo Ricci, you lunatic." I roared at him hoarsely.

"You imprisoned me for seven years, then brought home a woman to humiliate me. I want to leave, but you refuse to let go. What exactly do you want?"

"Imprisoned?" Fiorenzo looked hurt.

"Clarissa, you think those seven years were nothing but me imprisoning you? That damned piano teacher poisoned your mind. One bullet was too merciful for him."

He gestured to his men. "Throw that piano teacher into the ocean. I want his body to never see daylight again."

"No!" I screamed.

However, it was useless. I could only watch helplessly as Luigi's body was lifted and thrown into the endless ocean.

At the same time, a man in a white coat carrying a medical kit walked toward me.

I knew he was going to inject me with a sedative again. Maybe I was not sick at all. This was just his way of controlling me.

Just as the doctor was about to inject me, I bit down viciously on the man holding my right arm, then grabbed the syringe and stabbed it into the left man's eye.

"Come any closer and I'll jump!" I backed up to the edge of the deck.

"Clarissa!" Fiorenzo stood, looking at me with fury.

"Fiorenzo, let me go." I begged.

After staring at me silently for a few seconds, he said, "It's far from land here. If you jump, you'll die."

An emotion I could not read flickered in his dark green eyes. He reached out his hand toward me.

"You've always been a delicate little girl. Come back to Papa. Papa can give you everything you want."

I remained unmoved.

Fiorenzo shook his head in disappointment, then turned coldly to his men. "Seize her."

"Damn it, I'll never be at your mercy again!"

I turned to look at the sea, dark as ink in the night. My young lover's pure and innocent soul now slept there.

I no longer hesitated. Without looking back, I leaped down.